So in the end the campaign has begun with a very welcome and just about merited victory. We were a tad unlikely to be behind at the break, but they had converted their one real opening and we had failed to create a clear-cut chance and not tested their keeper. We equalised effectively from a set-piece, which looked unlikely when the two teams lined up at the start, and won it with an eventually very well taken chance on the break. And despite Blackett-Taylor looking the sort of threat we remember well managed to see it out. Happy days.
The team was the same as for the Carabao Cup game against Cheltenham. That meant Mannion retained in goal, with Brooks on the bench (and the continued absence of Kaminski encouraging speculation that he will be leaving), behind a back four of McNamara, Jones (fresh from signing his new two-year contract, to the relief of all of us), Koumetio and Bell (the bench support being just Mesik and Sichenje, with Ramsay still out injured and Burke not selected). The midfield defensive two were Chalobah and Coventry (with Rankin-Costello and Mwamba among the subs), while the more forward three were Campbell, Carey and Grant (potential replacements being Knibbs, Alli and Apter, who got the nod ahead of Docherty on the bench), and Godden would again be up top (Leaburn being the back-up).
The starting XI therefore included four players not with us last season (and two more among the subs). Presumably the game came too soon for Ouma, while as well as Ramsay, Edwards and Kelman were unavailable. In addition to Kaminski and Docherty, Burke, Asiimwe, Fullah and Kanu didn’t make the squad. So the impression from the first real season line-up is that there is still some work likely to be done as regards both incoming and outgoing players before the transfer window closes.
We were the brighter of the two sides in the opening period, with Grant working well on the left side of the three - but Campbell not in the game on the other and Carey struggling to control the game in the central role. But after the first 15 minutes or so, after Carey had been set up by Grant but failed to make a decent connection on the shot, Derby did come much more into it and started to look dangerous. They muffed one good position but converted the second. Jones went out to get to a ball lofted forward and didn’t make it. Suddenly we were in trouble with players caught out and unable to get back. A couple of square passes and their guy was in the clear (he even had another on his outside) and gave Mannion no chance with the finish.
Around the half-hour mark Campbell and Grant switched sides. Suddenly TC was a threat – and Grant in turn became anonymous. Perhaps that was down to the players up against them. Campbell clearly had the beating of his man, for pace and down the outside. He created moments, including a ball inside for Carey only for him to go down. Probably a slip and appeals for a soft penalty went begging. On the other side a loose ball inside their box was hit powerfully by McNamara, who managed to keep it down on the turn, but a Derby defender managed a block for a corner.
The stats at half-time showed we had 52% possession and nine shots (two on target) against five (and two) for them. But we had no real grounds for complaint as we hadn’t fashioned a clear chance while they did.
We continued as before in the second half, with Campbell the main attacking threat. Half-chances and moments came at both ends, with McNamara making an important block and Chalobah just unable to get a decent contact on a cross from the left. We had another – and more credible – appeal for a penalty as Campbell went down under a challenge. But a couple of changes before the hour highlighted the need for change. Leaburn and Alli replaced Godden (who had a thankless afternoon competing for high balls against big centre-backs and clearly blocked when he did get clear) and Carey, with Grant moving to the central spot.
And on the hour the game did change as we drew level. TC was pulled back. The free-kick on the left side by Grant was headed out but as it dropped Chalobah I think saw the chance to nudge the ball back to Grant. His second ball in was a peach and Jones converted it with a dominant header.
Now the game was anyone’s to win. Rankin-Costello replaced Grant on 72 minutes. On 74 minutes Derby broke with a clever backheel, leading to a shot from the edge of the area which Mannion turned around for a corner. By now players for both sides were getting tired, but then on 79 minutes we got that crucial second goal. Coventry picked up the ball in our box and played it out astutely for Rankin-Costello. He in turn played it forward for Leaburn, in behind their centre-backs, who seemed to get their wires crossed. He made it into the box but couldn’t get the shot away. Instead the ball ran for Campbell. He took it to the left side and from a narrow angle placed the shot perfectly into the far corner.
Now Derby had to chase the game. They responded with three subs, including the introduction of Blackett-Taylor, who proceeded to scare the life out of our defence. We reacted with two changes. Mesik and Sichenje came on for Chalobah and McNamara, which meant a switch to a back five and the focus on defending what we had.
We just about managed to do that, despite leaving CBT up against Alli or Mesik on their own – and he had the beating of both. Too many balls went into our box as a result, but even with eight minutes of stoppage time not one proved decisive and the win was ours.
It was far from perfect, not just because of the level of fitness – and special rewards should go to those who played the whole game, Koumetio (who I thought had an excellent game), Bell, Coventry and Campbell. Grant and TC both looked effective on the left side, neither on the right, while Carey looked a little rusty and perhaps less comfortable in the centre of a three rather than having a freer role to support forwards, run with the ball, and score goals. These things will get ironed out and we will no doubt improve, whether or not there is another signing or two. To get the three points on opening day, like last season, is a massive plus, and that overrides all else, for tonight at least.
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